JO KONTA will drop out of the world’s top 20 after the defence of her Miami title was ended by Venus Williams.
The British No1 was on course to avenge her Wimbledon semi-final defeat by the American but Williams turned the match to win 5-7 6-1 6-2 and move into the quarter finals.
Konta took a see-sawing first set and the winner of the opener had gone on to claim the match in all six of the pair’s previous meetings.
But Williams responded impressively, running away with the next two sets.
Konta will now move on to clay, her least favourite surface, still searching for the consistency which took her as high as world No4 after her run at Wimbledon.
The Brit started well, breaking the Williams serve in the opening game and having four chances to go a double break up in the third.
But the American hit back to level the match at 3-3 and held a set point when Konta was serving at 4-5.
Konta held her nerve, though, and moved a break ahead again to lead 6-5 before serving it out.
But Williams soon took the momentum away from Konta, breaking her serve in the second game of the second set and again in the sixth on the way to forcing a decider.
Konta took a medical time-out for treatment on her lower back and promptly dropped serve in the opening game of the third set.
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She fought back to level at 2-2, only to be broken again immediately and once more in the seventh game.
Williams, on this form and with the world’s top three already out of the tournament, is well capable of succeeding Konta as queen of Miami.
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